Meant To Be (15 page)

The banging started again. With a scowl, she stalked to the front door and swung it open—and had to cling for dear life to the knob when her knees threatened to buckle. Standing there, raking her from head to toe with those beady little eyes, was her ex-brother-in-law, Lyle Hastings. The air whooshed from her lungs as if expelled from a fireplace bellow.

"W-What the hell are you doing here?” she stammered, her voice an octave higher than usual.

Lyle shoved past her into the living room. “What do you think I'm doing here? Wade called. He asked me to come take care of him while you're at work. Didn't he tell you?"

"No, he didn't.” Jessica's heart raced and she tried to get a hold of her emotions. Lyle scared the hell out of her—had since the night he'd cornered her in his mother's house after Wade had run out for some fast food. Thank God their mother had pulled in the driveway before he'd had a chance to do anything more than feel her up.

Lyle turned to face her and smiled that loathsome smile of his. “Hell, if I didn't know any better, I'd think you weren't happy to see me."

Jessica held his gaze for a second before walking past him into the kitchen. She heard him go in search of Wade and the two of them whispering as she put on a pot of coffee. She couldn't believe this was happening. Having Wade here was hard enough. But Lyle staying under her roof, even for a short time, was more than she could handle. She'd die, though, before letting him see how rattled his presence made her.

She'd just poured herself a cup when Lyle helped Wade into the kitchen and settled him on the chair to her right. Lyle strode over to the counter and filled two cups he dug out of the cabinet.

"Morning, baby,” Wade said, rubbing his eyes with his good hand. “What's for breakfast?"

With a look of disgust, she pushed the box of donuts across the table.

Wade and Lyle exchanged smirks. Lyle set both cups on the table and sat down across from her. Cripes, the man made her skin crawl. She took a sip of her coffee then got up to feed Mr. Louie who'd yet to make an appearance. She sprinkled some dry cat food into his bowl and filled his water dish, but still no sight of him. Huh.

Jessica poured the rest of her coffee into the sink. “I need to get ready for work,” she informed them on her way out of the kitchen.

Wade grabbed her arm as she walked past him. “You don't mind if Lyle stays for a few days, do you?"

"Would it matter if I did?” she asked, meeting his gaze. “Why don't you just let him take you home, Wade?"

"Because you and I have unfinished business,” he said, releasing her arm.

"Bring something home for supper,” Wade shouted as Jessica walked out the front door.

"Bitchy as ever,” Lyle said as her truck backed out of the driveway. “Lucky for her she's got big tits or no man would put up with that shit."

Wade grabbed one of his crutches with his right hand and pulled himself to his feet. “Forget about Jessie. We need to find that damn bear. I tried looking around yesterday while she was at work, but the pain meds had me groggy and dizzy as hell."

Lyle walked into the kitchen and opened the fridge. “No beer? You knew I was coming and didn't pick up any beer?"

"I have a broken arm and leg, you idiot. I can barely take a piss, but I'm supposed to run out and buy you beer?"

"You could've had Jessie pick some up.” Lyle started rummaging through the cabinets. “Jackpot,” he said a minute later, pulling a bottle from the cabinet above the fridge. He held it up for Wade to see. “Wine. And I don't think it's cheap shit either."

"Like you'd know the difference,” Wade muttered under his breath. Out loud he said, “Well, pop it open and let's go. The sooner we find that bear, the sooner we can get the hell out of here."

"I figured you'd want to stick around for a while.” Lyle rummaged around in a few drawers until he found a corkscrew. “You haven't gotten laid in over two years. Unless, of course, you were nailing that cellmate of yours."

Lyle chuckled, and Wade threw a cat toy at him. “Open that freakin’ bottle already so we can look for the damn bear."

"Here you go.” Jessica set a hot beef and mashed potato plate on the table in front of her last customer of the day. Her shift ended in ten minutes and her feet couldn't be happier about that. “Can I get you anything else?” Jessica met his gaze and was once again taken aback by the blatant interest in his eyes. He'd been mildly flirting with her since he'd come in.

"I wouldn't mind your phone number."

He had thick, curly dark brown hair and the most incredible eyes; sort of an olive green with flecks of amber around the pupils. He smiled, and Jessica realized she'd been staring. Her cheeks heated up.

"Sorry.” She slid his check onto the table face down. “I didn't mean to be rude."

His smile widened, showing perfectly straight white teeth. “Hard to believe, but you're even prettier when you blush."

Jessica had to resist the urge to fan herself. She cleared her throat. Between Garrett, Wade, and Lyle, she had more than enough man trouble to keep her busy—and miserable. “Thanks. Listen, my shift is almost over, so if there's nothing else I can get you...?"

"How about that phone number? I'd love to take you out sometime."

In another lifetime, she would have given him her number in a nanosecond. But that was before Garrett Jamison had stolen her heart and ruined her for other men.

"I'm sorry, but I'm ... seeing someone.” Not a complete lie. She'd be seeing Wade as soon as she got home. Unless she got lucky and he and Lyle decided to head back to Seattle after all.

"Lucky man."

"Thanks.” She managed a smile. “You have a good night."

Jessica headed to the back room to punch out, grabbed her purse and chatted with one of the waitresses for a few minutes. The sun was still bright in the cloudless sky when she stepped outside, and she had to shield her eyes as she crossed the parking lot to her truck. As she got closer, she realized her truck sat at an odd angle. She squinted and let a whopper of a curse fly. Both tires on the driver's side were flat.

She stormed back into the restaurant and slammed her purse on the counter.

"What's wrong, sugar?” Angie Petrosky ran the register and answered the phone. She had salt-and-pepper hair up to the ceiling, a warm, motherly smile, and a chest so big it was a miracle she could stand upright.

"I have two flat tires, if you can believe it.” Jessica grabbed the phone book from beneath the counter and flipped it open. “And they're both on the driver's side so I'll need one of those flatbed tow trucks."

Jessica glanced up when a shadow fell over the phone book. Her green-eyed flirt stood in front of the register with his wallet out. He glanced up, met her gaze, and treated her to another of those great smiles.

"Everything all right?” he asked as he handed Angie a twenty.

"Just peachy.” Jessica flashed him a quick humorless smile. “I have two flat tires.” She returned to the phone book and flipped to the ‘T's'.

"Here you go,” Angie said, handing him his change. “Come again."

"You can count on it.” He moved closer to Jessica. “Two flat tires? What did you do, park on a bunch of broken glass or something?"

She shrugged. “I didn't look.” Sheesh, she had no idea who to call. She'd never needed a tow truck before.

"I could make the call for you,” he said, as if sensing her confusion.

Jessica smiled her relief. “Would you? I'd be so grateful."

Thirty minutes later, Jessica watched her truck get hauled away by a twenty-four hour towing company. Now she'd need to call for a cab ... or she could spend the night at a hotel and let the Hastings’ brothers fend for themselves. Hell, with her luck they'd probably hunt her down.

"Can I give you a ride home?"

Jessica smiled up at her green-eyed savior. He stood about six-feet-tall and had a muscular build. Not bulky like Garrett, but whipcord lean. “I appreciate the offer, but I've imposed on you enough."

He grinned. “I promise, I'm not a serial killer, if that's what's worrying you."

Jessica couldn't help but smile. Truth is, the thought never crossed her mind. God couldn't be that cruel, to make a man this gorgeous a criminal. “I just feel like I'm taking advantage. You've already wasted almost an hour of your time, and you must have better things to do than chauffeur me around."

"I have a hot date with my recliner to watch a ballgame,” he teased, “but I'm sure it won't mind if I see you home first."

Jessica laughed. “I don't know what to say. You've been great."

"My intentions aren't completely selfless,” he admitted with a lopsided grin. “I figure a ride home gives me at least ten more minutes to talk myself into a date."

She shook her head and held out her hand. “Maybe it's time we introduced ourselves. Jessica McGovern."

He took her hand in both of his then brought it to his lips. Jessica playfully rolled her eyes.

"Jack Sutton, at your service."

"What the hell is he doing here?” Garrett groused as he poured himself a cup of coffee. He grabbed a couple of the chocolate chip cookies Sara had dropped off earlier and took a seat at the kitchen table. Mr. Louie sat on the counter looking entirely too comfortable. Damn, the last person he wanted to think about tonight was Jessica, yet here sat her cat, staring at him as if in condemnation.

Nicky shrugged. “Not sure. He's been here all day. It's almost like he's afraid to go home."

Garrett's gaze turned curious. “What's the matter, boy?” he said under his breath. “You don't like her newest bed partner?"

"Newest bed partner?” Nicky echoed. “What the hell are you talking about?"

"Nothing. Mind your own business."

Nicky pushed up from the table and carried his coffee mug to the counter. “You gonna tell me what happened last night? Uncle Luke thinks you and Jessica had a fight, and I'm assuming he's right."

"You know what they say when you assume something."

Nicky topped off his coffee. “Yeah, except you're the only ass in this room."

All of a sudden, Mr. Louie jumped off the counter and ran to the back door. He meowed and scratched at it almost in a frenzy. Garrett and Nicky exchanged glances.

"Guess he's ready to go home,” Nicky commented.

Curious, Garrett got up and opened the back door, but the cat just stood there staring up at him. “What? If you want to go, go. I'm not gonna hold the damn door open all night."

Mr. Louie stepped outside, then turned back and looked up at Garrett, as if he wanted Garrett to follow him.

"Crazy cat,” he muttered. Garrett set his cup on the counter and followed the mammoth fur ball outside.

Mr. Louie led him around to the front of the house, and Garrett realized with a tightening of his chest that Jessica was out by the curb, talking to yet another man. Damn, he'd give anything to be able to turn back time and snap on a condom. How the hell could he have been so wrong about her?

He was halfway down the driveway when he saw the two men standing on her front porch. Jesus, she's got a friggin’ harem, he thought. One of the guys he recognized as the jerk-off from the night before, but the other he'd never seen before.

Mr. Louie stopped and looked back, as if to make sure he was still following. Garrett cocked a brow. If he didn't know any better, he'd swear the cat made a ‘come on’ motion with its head.

Jessica looked up as he approached, and Garrett was taken aback by the hostility in her eyes. What the hell? He'd practically caught her in the act with the gimp standing on her porch, yet she had the nerve to look at him as if
he'd
betrayed
her
?

She's nuts, man. Just be thankful you found out now.

"Your cat seems to have forgotten where he lives,” Garrett said when he reached her. He flicked a dismissive glance at her newest conquest, then at the guy's car. Garrett couldn't be sure, but the car looked vaguely familiar. He returned his gaze to the owner of the car, surprised to find the guy staring at him with nearly as much hostility as Jessica. She must have told him some whopper of a tale.

Jessica bent down and gestured for Mr. Louie who leapt into her arms. She stood, stroking the cat's head, looking pretty damn uncomfortable as her gaze moved from Garrett to the men on her porch.

The gimp remained on the porch while the other guy hopped down and strode toward them. He eyeballed Garrett before turning his full attention to Jessica, looking far from pleased. Jessica watched him approach, and Garrett could have sworn she clutched Mr. Louie even tighter, as if in support. No vehicles were parked in her driveway, so he couldn't even run the plates to find out who this idiot was.

But he
could
run the plates of her newest conquest's car.

"What's going on, Jessie? You're an hour late. We were starting to worry."

She cast Garrett a quick glance before explaining. “Someone slashed a couple of my tires. I had to have my truck towed, and Jack here was kind enough to offer me a ride home."

Garrett's hackles shot up. Jessica ends up with two slashed tires the day after he does? Coincidence? Doubtful. Just what the hell was going on? He felt as if he'd stepped into an episode of the Twilight Zone. Within twenty-four hours, his life had done a complete turnaround, and nothing made a damn bit of sense. At least he had one set of plates and a first name to work with. Garrett watched as Jack transferred his hostility to the numbnut standing in front of Jessica. This whole scenario was getting stranger by the second.

The numbnut reached out and cupped Jessica's elbow. Mr. Louie hissed and swatted at him. Garrett and Jack both took a step toward her, but Jessica held up a hand to ward them off. She turned to Jack. “Thanks for everything. Hopefully, one day I can repay you."

Garrett snorted. He knew exactly how she'd be repaying Jack.

Jessica turned the full force of her displeasure on him. “I'm sorry Mr. Louie's been bothering you. I'll do my best to make sure it doesn't happen again.” With one last look at Jack, she rushed up to the house.

Numbnut gave Jack and Garrett each a ‘stay the hell away’ look before following Jessica inside, leaving Garrett and Jack alone on the curb.